A Jewish settler shot and injured two Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron Thursday, witnesses said.

According to witnesses, a settler deliberately opened fire at two students near al-Aroub refugee camp, north of the town, injuring one in the back and the other in the thigh.

Hospital officials said the one who was injured in the back had suffered sever bleeding, describing his condition as critical.

Israeli troops hurried to the scene of the accident and prevented people from approaching the area, witnesses said.

Hebron, home to 170,000 Palestinians and 600 Jewish settlers, is a hot zone where settlers and Palestinian residents always clash.

On Wednesday, a Palestinian man died shortly after a Jewish settler's vehicle ran over him in the town.

The man was passing across a road in the south of Hebron before a speedy Israeli vehicle hit him, witnesses said.